October 4, 2015

Jesus, the Source of Living Water, Extends an Invitation to All Who Thirst

Jesus, the Source of Living Water,
Extends an Invitation to All Who Thirst
[source: Bible Gateway]

John now takes us to Jesus' shocking, clear claim made on the last and greatest day of the Feast (v. 37). On each day of the feast there was a procession of priests to the pool of Siloam to draw water (m. Sukka 4:9). The priests returned to the temple, where the water was taken in procession once around the altar with the choir chanting Psalms 113-118, and then the water was poured out as a libation at the morning sacrifice. All-night revelry lead up to this morning libation. This was a time of joy so great that it was said, "He that never has seen the joy of the Beth he-She'ubah [water-drawing] has never in his life seen joy" (m. Sukka 5:1; cf. Deut 16:14-15; Jubilees 16:20, 25). This joy was associated with Isaiah 12:3, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." On the seventh day of the festival the priests processed around the altar with the water not once but seven times (Bloch 1980:200; cf. Beasley-Murray 1987:113 for a more detailed description).

At this high point of the festival Jesus dramatically cries out loudly (krazo, as in v. 28), If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink (v. 37). If he spoke this invitation during the revelry, he would have to shout just to be heard. But we have also an allusion to the image of Wisdom, calling out, inviting all mankind to come and drink (cf. Prov 8--9; Sirach 24:19). What Jesus offers is the fulfillment of the very things they were celebrating. Here is grace upon grace (Jn 1:16). Here the Son is repeating the offer of the Father, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters" (Is 55:1). Indeed, he is fulfilling the role of God, who "will guide them and lead them beside springs of water" (Is 49:10). His offer shows he is far more than just a prophet or an agent; here we have God himself offering us life.

In Jewish writings water is a very rich symbol (cf. Goppelt 1972:318-22). God himself can be called "the spring of living water" (Jer 2:13; 17:13). Other texts that use water imagery speak of Wisdom (Baruch 3:12; Sirach 15:3; 24:21, 25-27, 30-31), the law (Sifre on Deuteronomy 48) and, as here in John 7:39, the Holy Spirit (Genesis Rabbah 70:8; Targum of Isaiah 44:3). Jesus, in offering the Spirit (v. 39), is claiming to be able to satisfy people's thirst for God. The cries of the psalmists are answered. David prayed, "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Ps 63:1). The sons of Korah sang, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Ps 42:1-2). Both of these psalms go on to speak of meeting God in the temple: David has seen God in the sanctuary (Ps 63:2), and the sons of Korah speak of "leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng" (Ps 42:4). When Jesus cries out at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles on this particular day, the worshipers meet God in his sanctuary--in the person of his Son. The longing for God is met with God's invitation to come and be satisfied. In Jesus, God's own desire for man is expressed and the desire of man for God is met. All that the temple represented is now found in Jesus.

This invitation to come and drink is the climax of a series of references to water in this Gospel: the water turned to wine (chap. 2), the water of the new birth (chap. 3), the living water (chap. 4), the cleansing water of Bethesda (chap. 5) and the calming of the waters (chap. 6). All of these have revealed Jesus as the agent of God who brings God's gracious offer of life.

In offering them the Spirit he is claiming that the age to come has already arrived. Just as water flowed out from the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:10-14), so a river flows from the eschatological temple (Ezek 47). Ezekiel's vision has begun to be fulfilled in Jesus' offer in the temple, and it will come to completion in heaven in "the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Rev 22:1). That heavenly water of life is already available through Jesus. His invitation at the Feast of Tabernacles is repeated in the invitation at the end of the book of Revelation: "Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Rev 22:17).

John 4:29 Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?

The word 'come' in the above invitation is the same word used by the Spirit and the bride to invite others to take the free gift of the water of life (Revelation 22:17). This makes me think that the above verses in John 4 paints a picture of a type of bride of Christ. Again this bride seems to be found going to draw water from the well. The Messiah or Bridegroom is also at the well and it seems to be here at the well where they recognize each other. John 4:23 also reveals another quality of the Bride - she will worship in spirit and truth.

Wow! This again points back to images from a previous article 'Sing to the Well'. This article also reveals more qualities of the bride having to do with striking the Rock with a rod; these are collected below.

A picture of the Bride of Christ

• She is from the 'family' ... (Genesis 24:48)
• She is a 'virgin' ... [not physically, spiritually. (emphasis mine)] (Genesis 24:15)
• She is able to draw water from the well and water 'the flock' ... (Genesis 24:19, 29:6; Exodus 2:15-21)
• She is found at the well, the bride & bridegroom recognize each other here ... (John 4)
• The spirit and the bride say 'Come' -- come to the well ... (John 4:29; Rev 22:17)
• The bride worships in spirit and truth ... (John 4:23)
• The bride 'sings to the well' and water flows from the Rock ... (Numbers 21:16-18)
• The bride has a rod of authority given by the Lord ... (Isaiah 11:1-4)
• The bride uses the rod of her mouth to strike the Rock at the well ... (Isaiah 11:1-4)
• The rod is dipped in honey - God's word is in the bride's mouth and heart ... (1 Samuel 14:27-29; Psalm 119:103)

The bride is a rock garden locked up, a fountain sealed. A secret place hidden and protected belonging to God thru Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The bride is a spring of living waters welling up to eternal life. A beautiful place of communion and fellowship with the Lord is found at this well of living water. The bride and Bridegroom recognize each other here. Worship in spirit and truth occurs here. Water is drawn here by the Spirit and the Bride and offered to the thirsty. The Spirit and the Bride say "Come!”

Come! Come to the well and sing with joy
Worship the Lord in spirit and truth
Give to the Lord the glory due to His name
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness ... (Psalm 29:2)
Under the shadow of His wings drink
Drink the living water from the fountain of life
The river of delights. ... (Psalm 36:7-9)
Come and abide in the secret place
High upon the Rock
Dwell in His house
Drink in His presence
Come and behold the beauty of the Lord ... (Psalm 27:4-5)
The Bridegroom!
Come! Come to the well of living waters!

Isaiah 12:2-3 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Psalm 84:1-2, 4, 10 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere!

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

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